I solve throat and voice problems from the viewpoint of a kineticist.

Menu

Monthly Archives: April 2016

It’s very easy to massage the superior laryngeal artery once you learn how, then practice and get used to it. Review the photos below for an visual guide on how to complete this process, and follow these steps which further explain the mechanics as well as names of each muscle:
Let’s begin with locating the thyroid foramen (the superior laryngeal artery gains entrance to this hole), which is between the hyoid bone and the thyroid cartilage.
Most people have uneven location (not directly center) of where the thyroid foramen is between the right and left.
Make a scissors sign (like rock, paper, scissors) with your fingers. Put your middle finger on the lower end of the hyoid bone and your first finger on the upper edge of the thyroid cartilage.
Open the scissors sign slowly (totaling 3 seconds) and apply light pressure to the skin. Stop applying pressure when the opening is about half an inch. Please do not close your fingers at the end. Just remove your fingers after opening and the repeat that motion again 10 times on both sides.
If you do this properly it will heal a hoarse voice, a dry throat, prevent influenza and colds, and also assist in the daily care of your voice.
Additionally, this massage will help you warm up your voice before singing.
Please try it.

★★★Key Point★★★
This massage will not work if you don’t put your fingers on the exact and correct location of the thyroid foramen. Please make an appointment at the Voice Care Salon to inquire, if you want to know the exact position of the thyroid foramen. I’ll find it using precise palpation techniques.

I’ll teach you a quick treatment for when you suddenly get a hoarse voice.

Vocalization is comprised of movements from the musculus extrinsic laryngis. If you use your voice too much, these muscles become swollen, causing the mucosa of the larynx (including the vocal cords) to increase. This swelling is due to poor blood circulation. Finally, the vocal fold increases in thickness and weight.
If these issues happen, the glottis is opened and leaks breath, making it harder to let out a high-pitched voice, which results in a hoarse voice. Many of us have experienced this, more than likely after attending a concert or sporting event perhaps? If you are a professional singer this could happen after excessive practice or possibly an extended performance.
Normally you will recover fairly quickly if you stop letting out your voice, and your throat is placed at rest for a few days.
However, if you really need to use your voice or sing, please try my personal cure to overcome this sudden hoarse voice.(1)Professional Care: Taking healing from a Voice Care Adviser
You have to find a reliable and knowledgeable voice adviser to activate your lactate metabolism. This specialist will use techniques that focus on improving the blood circulation of the musculus extrinsic laryngis and increase the moisture of the vocal cords’ mucosa.(2)Self-Care
i.Improve blood circulation (by massaging) the superior laryngeal artery, this will directly fix the swollen vocal cords’ mucosa.
ii.Moisturize the vocal cords mucosa with voice care candy, which will lubricate and improve vibrating of the vocal folds.

Note1:If you did not fix your hoarse voice properly you will have excessive muscle tension when closing the glottis, or any of these noticeable issues: The edges of the vocal cord may touch together to cause a vocal nodule, LDP, or polyps due to the capillary damage in the vocal cords.
If you are professional singer you should prevent having these kind of problems, by being aware of your vocal status and having a Voice Care Adviser to consult with.

The following is a list of the common symptoms of Pituitary LDP (larynx deep position) due to aging:
1.Displaying a hoarse voice and finding it hard to let out a high-pitched voice.
2.Muscle weakness due to aging.
3.The musculus extrinsic laryngis is very stiff.
4.The sternohyoid muscle does not extend well.
5.The stylopharyngeus muscle is tight.
6.The space is narrow between the hyoid bone and the thyroid cartilage.
7.Sagging of the skin of around the anterior cervical structure.

Treatment is as follows:
1.Acquire flexibility of the muscles relevant to vocalization.
2.Extend the space between the hyoid bone and the thyroid cartilage. This will increase blood circulation.
3.Acquire sufficient control in inhaling and exhaling when breathing.
4.Improving the muscle movements of the musculus extrinsic laryngis.
5.Expand the resonance chamber.

Note:Age should not influence the voice changing. Many great vocal artists have preserved their vocal abilities into the elder part of their lives. They have done this by being aware of their vocal condition and taking care of their muscles. Please keep singing and caring for your voice, even after aging into your ‘golden years.’

The cricothyroid muscle is necessary in its role to let out a good high-pitched voice. The cricothyroid muscle moves the cricothyroid articulation which lets out a high-pitched voice when bending and sliding to extend the vocal folds.
No one can sense or feel this small articulation when moving.
If you have a problem with moving the cricothyroid articulation, you cannot let out a high-pitched voice easily.
If your cricothyroid articulation is stiff or can not move widely, it will strain the vocal cord muscles and contract the resonance chamber in order to make a high-pitched voice.
The above way makes i:A metallic high-register voice ii:Pitch is not precise or accurate iii:A hoarse voice iv:LDP

First, it is best to check to see if your cricothyroid articulation moves properly. If there is no problem, you can have safe and progressive vocal training, with an achievable goal of making the cricothyroid muscle stronger.
However, if the cricothyroid articulation has problem with its movements you have to fix the underlying cause first. Otherwise, you won’t be able to improve your high-pitched voice, even if you do hard and dedicated training.
The main cause that the cricothyroid articulation is obstructed from moving widely is by (larynx deep position) LDP, which weakens the cricothyroid muscle.
So first you need to fix LDP, then mobilize the stiff cricothyroid articulation, finally after that you can begin targeted muscle training of the cricothyroid muscle.
The following figure shows mobilization of the cricothyroid articulation.
You can increase the range of a high-pitched and low-pitched voice by mobilization of the cricothyroid articulation.

Improving a low-pitched voice: Slide the cricoid cartilage forward. When moving obliquely downward, extend the angle of the cricothyroid articulation to loosen up the vocal folds.

Improving a high-pitched voice:Push up on the cricoid cartilage and bend the cricothyroid articulation to extend to the vocal fold.

Note1:The cricothyroid articulation is the hinge joint and the slide joint. In rare cases, if the shape is different or abnormally irregular between the right and left sides of the thyroid cartilage, it may cause problems with moving the cricothyroid articulation.

Note2:Please do not mobilize the cricothyroid articulation by yourself, because if you press it with too much strength it will be broken easily. Seek a voice care salon or vocalization specialist when dealing with such issues.

I would like to introduce my special tea drink recipe, which is really good for the throat and voice.
Prepare dry herbs of Mallow Blue tea and a side of Manuka honey made in New Zealand. The honey should be more than UMF 15+.
Put the Mallow Blue tea leaves/herbs (using a tea ball) into a tea pot of hot water. Close the lid and let it boil and steam to reach a temperature of about 203F.
After decreasing in temperature, 4 or 5 minutes later (after boiling) pour the tea into the tea cup. Then follow by adding a teaspoon of the Manuka honey. It’s not good to heat the honey too much, so please do not put the honey in while the tea is still boiling hot.
If you put too much honey, you will get dryness in the larynx. So please be sure to only use 1 teaspoon.

UMF stands for, “Unique Manuka Factor.” The numerical reading tells you what the full non-peroxide antibacterial rating of the Manuka honey is. I believe 15+ is better for the voice than 5+, after I tested and compared both.

This drink is really good for the throat and positively affects vocalization, producing better sound and ability.
Please try it once.